Sell more at craft fairs and markets with these insider tips and tricks

A Quick Look at My Top Tips for Craft Show Vendors

Here's a quick look at some of the things that have helped me successfully sell products at craft fairs. For more goodies and know-how, read on!

Your display is more important than your products and it is crucial to your success at craft fairs.

Your booth should be free from clutter and visually appealing up close and from far away.

Choose backgrounds and table coverings that do not distract from your products.

Lighting is important! Evaluate each venue's lighting on a separate basis and plan accordingly.

Use unusual elements in your display to add visual interest and stand out from others around you.

Don't focus only on the front and center of your booth. People often scan around the perimeter when deciding to enter a display.

Use signage tastefully and sparingly.

Do not let people see supplies or other behind-the-scenes elements under your table. Use table covers appropriately.

Once they're inside, engage your customers' senses by controlling the temperature, choosing some nice music, and using scent tastefully.

Don't shout at your customers or use pushy slogans. Invite them in with genuine, cheerful greetings.

Offer samples of your product — allowing potential customers to taste and touch the things you make helps build a sense of ownership and makes them feel in charge.

Show off your expertise, preferably by demonstrating some aspect of making your craft. People love talking to a busy person!

Network with other vendors — it's good karma and it's good for your business.

Dress nicely. If you make something you can wear, wear it.

Avoid eating or drinking in your booth. It's unprofessional and will distract you from attending to your customers.

People attract more people! Have traffic in your booth at all times — if no one is in there, go out and rearrange things or pick up clutter.

Craft Show Sales Techniques That Work

During my time selling handmade soaps, lotions, and jewelry at various events, I learned a great deal through trial and error. It took a lot of practice to become successful as a seller both closing sales and most importantly, acquiring repeat customers.

This guide is a comprehensive how-to based on my experience. Learn what works and what definitely doesn’t. Use these strategies and you’ll have the edge over all other craft fair vendors.

Your Display Is More Important Than Your Products

Selling your handmade goods at craft fairs and markets can be a wonderful and rewarding experience. It requires a lot of planning and a strong booth design strategy to give you the edge over competitors. Many vendors make the mistake of believing their product will sell itself. While it is true that good craftsmanship is important – it is NOT what brings you the bulk of your new customers. Your display—the craft booth itself—is what you really need to focus on.

Work with this idea in mind and you will be one step ahead of your competition. No one wants to believe that their art is less important than their booth, but that’s how it works and here's why.

People are visual creatures. People who develop retail displays and create retail design plans are well-paid for good reason; they know how to draw you in and subtly entice you to spend your hard-earned money. As a vendor, you are not only there to display a craft; you are there to persuade people. There are plenty of booths with pretty things all around you, so your's had better reel them in!

The best persuasion doesn’t come through pushy sales tactics or being aggressive. It's all in the subtleties. Your booth creates the all-important first impression, which is the most important aspect of sales. Before anyone ever gets to you or your craft, they see your display and will either be drawn to it, or walk on by.

Marketing Techniques for Craft Displays

Your booth must be visually appealing from a distance and from within. It must both welcome visitors and have enough for them to see to encourage them to stay, but not so much that it overwhelms them and that all things blend together. Your booth is the equivalent of a tiny retail shop – treat it as such.

Your entryway should be clean and free from clutter. Booths should ideally be set up in a clockwise or semi-circular fashion that encourages the natural flow of traffic. If there are traffic jams or people have to trip over each other to get to what they want to see, they will simply move on to the next thing.

Backgrounds and table coverings should be easy on the eyes and contrast nicely with what you are selling. If you are selling pastel-colored items, put them against a dark or white background – not another pastel color. You want your items to be what “pops” — not your signage or loud background “noise." Color contrast provides visual interest. Contrast is also a good distance strategy – it makes your booth stand out in the crowd so use it to your advantage.

Lighting – lighting will make or break you. Consider the natural lighting for every place you sell on an individual basis. Adjust your lighting needs accordingly. Soft light tends to be alluring – run a strand of simple white Christmas lights along the back of your display table. Wrap it in greenery for an extra nice touch that goes well with most themes. This will not distract from your products, but rather will enhance whatever other lighting techniques you use. It also adds visual depth to your display which encourages people to “come in."

Your display should also contrast. A solid booth with three walls and some tables is not enough to really “grab” the attention of a visitor. It looks like everything else and doesn’t make you unique at all. You may have the most one-of-a-kind craft on the market, but if your display screams ordinary – you will get passed by.

Use unusual displays such as a coat rack, a set of shelves, stacking items, or platforms. All of these create visual interest and get your products closer to eye level. Stair-stepping items on tables is a great way to make booths visually interesting. Place one prominent item in the upper right back corner of your booth. It draws the eye in. Most people focus on “front and center” – but don’t let that be your only one. Eyes scan around the perimeter when deciding to go in.

Signage is another one of those items that needs to be used sparingly for the best results. If you place a sign that has a long description of your items, your potential customers won’t make it past the first two sentences. People love to “skim” information. Place a tastefully sized sign that highlights only a very few important bullet points about your items. Near this sign, if possible, leave a stack of professionally printed business cards that are also visually interesting.

Never ever allow your supplies and other items to be visible under the tables. Use proper fitting table covers. Seeing a bunch of stuff shoved under a table distracts from what you want people to see.

In my soaping business, I stapled small soap samples onto my business cards which I placed into a little brass claw-foot bathtub. People thought that display was so cute that they started talking to me – which then gave me the chance to show off my knowledge and close the sale.

Make Your Customers Comfortable by Engaging Their Senses

Once you have caught their eye, you must engage all of your visitor's senses in an enticing way that makes them feel at ease.

Control the Temperature

If it’s hot; have a fan going. If it's cold; do what you can to block the wind. Making your space as comfortable as possible is a great way to keep people looking. When you work outdoor craft fairs and festivals, the weather is either your best friend or your worst enemy. Be prepared!

Choose Appropriate Background Music

Appropriate background noise can also help boost comfort levels and sales. It can also have the opposite effect, so choose wisely. If it’s not against the rules, play soft background music that is appealing to a broad range of people. Avoid hard rock, country, rap, or any music style that some people may have a strong distaste for, unless it somehow ties directly into the theme of your craft.

You may like that super speed death metal or twangy country star, but there is a good chance your booth visitors will not, and if they don’t like what they hear, they aren’t going to stick around for the verbal assault on their ears.

Living in the heartland, I find nothing more grating than to walk into a restaurant or shop and hear loud country music. Guess what places stick out in my mind as places not to frequent? It’s the same for your customers. We don’t all have the same tastes in music, so you are better off choosing something with broad appeal the same way retail stores do. Loud is not better. Keep it soft and subtle.

Use Smell

Finally, appeal to the sense of smell. Nothing is more alluring than a nice fragrance, but LESS is more. Customers are quickly turned off by competing scents and overpowering them with smelly things. Keep a stash of fresh coffee beans on hand and let your guests “clear their noses." It’s a great conversation piece and works like a charm.

Smelling coffee clears the sinuses and allows you to get a “true scent." If you sell candles, soaps, or other smell-good items, this is a great way to keep your customers smelling your goods without bowling them over.

Never set up next to a “scentsy” person who has multiple burners going – Ack! If you’re the scentsy person, or anyone else who sells candles or melts, have respect and consideration for your neighbors.

Pick ONE scent to have burning and place other samples where people can pick them up and smell them. It makes you a better neighbor to other craft vendors which can also lead to more sales through referral. It also keeps you from overpowering customers and giving them a headache.

I did aromatherapy bath products and know that you can have your products available to smell without being obnoxious about it. People appreciate that, especially those who are sensitive or have allergies.

Even if you don't sell scented products, you can still use natural fragrances to your advantage. I keep a bottle of homemade air freshener that I prepare with citrus essential oils. Citrus is light and non-offensive, and it has an elevating effect on the mood. It is extremely subtle and just keeps your area fresh and clean. I learned this trick from a health food store I used to frequent and incorporated it into my booth.

Amazing Vinyl Banner Signs

I purchased an amazing vinyl banner sign for my photo restoration business from this Amazon seller. It's affordable and the signs are sharp and crisp. Highly recommended! They are very helpful and you can custom create any design you want. Make your business stand out with a sign like this! I had before and after photos printed on mine and the sign itself was drawing people in to my booth to learn more.

Craft Show Sales Techniques: Making the Sale

Ok, the booth looks great and the people are flowing in – now it’s time to close some sales.

Greeting Your Customers

Avoid being pushy or shouting out slogans. I have seen many vendors engage in this activity and watched as people passed by their booth rolling their eyes. You don’t want to be shouted down if you walk into a store and neither do those who are browsing at a craft fair.

Smile and greet every visitor to your booth with a simple “Hi, how are you?” or "Good morning." Be genuine in your friendliness as people pick up on that. They know instinctively when people are being phony and when they are being sincere. Once they are perusing your products and their comfort level is increasing, then you can offer to help them or let them know that you are happy to answer any questions they have about a particular craft.

This empowers your customer and leaves them in charge of their shopping experience. They don’t feel the “high pressure” that comes from other gimmicks.

Offer Samples

If you can, have free samples available or items that your customers can feel and touch and encourage them to do so. Studies have shown that holding an item forms a bond and a sense of ownership within 30 seconds. Give your leads something to do – engage them without pressuring them and they will become customers.

Create a Positive Experience

Even if they don’t buy today, people will remember “experiences." Something to always be mindful of is that people remember an experience more than they remember a thing or a service.

Remember the last time you went to a store or restaurant and were treated rudely? You remember the way you were treated, but do you remember what you were buying or what the product/dinner was? Probably not. It's more likely that you remember not liking the experience you had.

Create a fun, positive environment for your visitors and give them a way to contact you in the future with really distinct business cards or samples. This reinforces your brand.

Show Off Your Expertise

Know your stuff and demonstrate it if you can! People love to watch crafters at work. Embrace their curiosity. If you see them watching what you’re doing; chat with them about it. For some crafts, this isn’t always practical, but you can do something else that relates to it.

For example, I couldn’t cook soap live at most events, but I did wrap my soap there and package it. I also cut samples where people could see what I was doing. I made little herbal pouches and did things with my essential oils. All of these activities kept me busy. And it's true what they say — people love to talk to a busy person!

It was also a way for me to strike up conversations that were not sales pitches but still allowed me to demonstrate my knowledge on the subject. People are more inclined to buy from those they see as experts.

If you can, you should find a non-obtrusive way to practice your craft. Remember, people are visual and watching a crafter is fascinating. Listening to a crafter spin a story as they are doing their craft is fun. Engage people in a meaningful way that is memorable and not overly pushy. You can subtly highlight the benefits of your craft or product and what makes it special.

Other Tips & Hints

Network with other vendors. You are not in competition with everyone. Those who keep this in mind tend to have more customers because you can always find what someone is looking for. Refer customers to other vendors you know and trust. It’s good business and it’s good Karma.

Be a good neighbor and have consideration for your fellow vendors. Vendors are typically very nice people who are eager to help. They are also quick to “blacklist” people who don’t play by the rules.

Dress nicely. Wear a nice outfit and be well-groomed. Ladies, if you can — wear pink. Pink and other soft, bright colors soften your appearance and make you more approachable. I didn’t believe this when I first heard it either, but it works. Anytime I wore soft, vibrant colors, I generated more sales and leads.

If you make something that you can wear – wear it. This is great for jewelry. You can often get other vendors who are not directly competing with you to wear something you have made if you offer to promote their products in return.

Don’t eat and drink in your booth. Nothing is more unappealing than walking into a booth where someone is stuffing their face instead of paying attention to their customers. Have someone relieve you for a few minutes and eat elsewhere whenever possible. If you must eat in your booth, put your food down while customers are in your stall.

Have traffic in your booth at all times. People draw people. If it's slow, go into the sales area and straighten your displays and clean up any trash etc. This will keep people coming in.

We love our canopy. It can be used indoors or outdoors and has zippered sides. If it's cold or rainy, you can quickly put up the walls to protect your merchandise and also have a space for people to duck in out of the wind and other elements. It's a good investment that you can write off as a business expense.

E-Z up type canopies are very easy to handle. I was even able to put ours up by myself at a few events where my husband couldn't attend. Weigh it down on the opposing corners with ropes/cinder blocks to avoid damage in high winds.

Comments

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AUTHOR

Christin Sander

3 weeks agofrom Midwest

Thanks so much Connie for the read and comment. Much appreciated.

AUTHOR

Christin Sander

3 weeks agofrom Midwest

Thanks Ashly, glad you found it helpful!

Connie Quartuccio

3 weeks ago

Just love your very helpful advice. I find that I am doing many of your ideas already. But, have found many suggestions that I intend to tryout. Always fun to shake things up......

Ashly Christen

4 weeks agofrom Illinois

Love the Vendor Checklist

AUTHOR

Christin Sander

5 weeks agofrom Midwest

Thanks Marilyn, so glad you found it helpful.

Marilyn

5 weeks agofrom Nevada

Wow, you offer extremely good insights for Craft Fair vendors. Since I have paintings to display, it is a great idea to engage potential customers with a relaxed atmosphere, and using the senses like smell is also an enhancement. I'm going to take your suggestions. Thank you for sharing the information. Priceless!

AUTHOR

Christin Sander

2 months agofrom Midwest

Thanks Priscilla,

Best of luck with your shows.

Priscilla

2 months ago

Thank you!! Very useful tips and gives me a great place to start being new to Craft Fairs-

Very well done!

AUTHOR

Christin Sander

3 months agofrom Midwest

Hi Ned,

I guess our experiences haven't been the same. I find most to be pleasant and easy to deal with. There are always a few bad apples in every crate though I suppose.

Ned

3 months ago

I dont know what craft festival that u have worked . most vendors r some of the rudest ppl to work around at set up and take down. I work all over. Now u made a friend with a hand full of them, tbey will b your friend forever.

AUTHOR

Christin Sander

3 months agofrom Midwest

Amazon is probably a good idea

Candace

3 months ago

Wheres the best place to order bags for jewelry sales?

This will be my first vendor set up?

AUTHOR

Christin Sander

5 months agofrom Midwest

Great Ann,

So glad you found it helpful. Happy selling!

Ann

5 months ago

Very well written with useful information. As I was,reading, I stopped and began to work on my table covering and set-up!

AUTHOR

Christin Sander

5 months agofrom Midwest

Thank you I appreciate the read and comment :)

Craftefy

5 months ago

I can tell you put a lot of thought into this and it was very well written with a lot of good information good job

AUTHOR

Christin Sander

8 months agofrom Midwest

You're welcome Stacey :) Glad you enjoyed them.

Stacey Russo

8 months ago

Thank you very much for the tips! Very informative!

AUTHOR

Christin Sander

8 months agofrom Midwest

You're very welcome Lynne

Lynne Fackler

8 months ago

Thank you.

Cynz

8 months ago

Great article. Very informative, and well written. :)

AUTHOR

Christin Sander

9 months agofrom Midwest

Great Tanya so glad you found it helpful.

Tanya Teffer

9 months ago

Thanks, I am just starting out my little craft business and this is super helpful!

AUTHOR

Christin Sander

10 months agofrom Midwest

Thanks Tammy, glad you found it useful.

Tammy Lehman

10 months ago

Great advice and useful ideas I will be using! Thank you!

AUTHOR

Christin Sander

11 months agofrom Midwest

Thanks Joana glad you enjoyed the article and happy crafting!

AUTHOR

Christin Sander

11 months agofrom Midwest

Thanks Barbara I appreciate the feedback. TheCraftBooth.com has a lot of additional information and resources also you should consider.

Barbara Gotham

11 months ago

I found this very informative and filled with wonderful ideas and special ideas I never thought about. I have a lot of work to do if Ivan handle all the details.

AUTHOR

Christin Sander

13 months agofrom Midwest

You're very welcome Dee - good luck with it. I have a whole website dedicated to craft fair vendors thecraftbooth.com that may also be of help.

Dee Porter

13 months ago

Wow, Thank you! I am putting on my first craft show, and you just saved me.

AUTHOR

Christin Sander

14 months agofrom Midwest

Awesome Tess, best of luck to you with your sales.

Tess Clancy

14 months ago

Great article, I have just began this year, selling crystal and gemstone jewellery, I have tried so many different ways to display my pieces, cards, sealed packets, professional jewellery stands, baskets, not quite on top of it, but your article will certainly give me some more ideas, thank you

AUTHOR

Christin Sander

14 months agofrom Midwest

Actually, I did mention that Augustyn thanks for reading and commenting :)

Augustyn Artworks

14 months ago

Lots of good information! I do a bout 6 shows a year and have been doing shows for years. You didn't mention put down cellphones and stay off computers. Thanks

AUTHOR

Christin Sander

14 months agofrom Midwest

True Troy since that's naturally where the eyes go before moving up or down - that's why it's important to create good lines and groupings to draw the eyes where you want them to go :) Thanks for the read and comment.

troy wilde

14 months agofrom haverfordwest

very informative! I have just started doing events and craft fairs. I have found that items displayed at eye level get the most attention.

AUTHOR

Christin Sander

14 months agofrom Midwest

Awesome Diana - good luck :)

Diana Majors

14 months agofrom Arkansas

Thanks for the wonderful pointers! I'm having my first experience as a vendor this coming weekend, and I'll be sure to follow some of your tips!

AUTHOR

Christin Sander

15 months agofrom Midwest

You're welcome Maureen :)

Maureen Romano

16 months ago

Thank you! Your suggestions are appreciated. I can incorporate your ideas to make my handcrafted items become more sellable.

AUTHOR

Christin Sander

16 months agofrom Midwest

you're very welcome Edet, thanks for the read and comment.

Good luck with everything Tammy, be sure to visit my website too for more information. It's listed in the article.

Goodnews Edet Bassey

16 months agofrom Nigeria

Nice tips. thanks a lot

Tammy Hesler

16 months ago

I love this article!! I have really thought about jumping into the craft fair business.. This information is going to be a lifesaver for me!!

AUTHOR

Christin Sander

16 months agofrom Midwest

You're welcome Rowena and good luck to you

Rowena

16 months ago

Thank you!

I enjoyed reading and lots of ideas.

Thank you for sharing.

Phil Shawe

16 months agofrom New York

Great tips! Thanks for sharing

Andrew

16 months agofrom Rep Boston MA

Great tips on how to out do the competition at craft fairs! I will agree that duct tape is easily one of the most important and fundamental things to have at any kind of expo.

AUTHOR

Christin Sander

20 months agofrom Midwest

Hi Athlyn, thanks for the read and comment. A lot of crafters don't realize that selling at craft fairs is very much like selling in retail. It's competitive and you have to go the extra mile to win over customers and keep them coming back. :) Also, some people struggle because they are setting up at shows and events that are not right for the products they create. A lot of research goes into it too.

Athlyn Green

20 months agofrom West Kootenays

What a wealth of helpful and sound advice in this article. So many struggle to sell their goods but you've offered some fab tips. This could explain why some do very well, while others struggle to make enough to cover the cost of their table.

AUTHOR

Christin Sander

21 months agofrom Midwest

Excellent idea Carol - thanks so much for sharing :)

carolparker223@gmail.com

21 months ago

Enjoy your article. We also add small wind chimes around our booth. They also draw customers in and seem to enjoy the light tinkling sounds that move with the breeze. Not good for windy daus, though! Too noisy! lol

AUTHOR

Christin Sander

21 months agofrom Midwest

Thanks for the read and comment Ryan, much appreciated :)

Ryan

21 months agofrom Manchester

Enjoyable read. Cheers.:)

AUTHOR

Christin Sander

2 years agofrom Midwest

I agree Leigh. I never spend time on my phone when I'm selling. Many craft fair vendors have no experience in retail or other customer service and so it's a learning curve for many.

Leigh

2 years ago

I attended the Tupelo MS Flea Market on Black Friday. Honestly, out of all the vendors I interacted with, at least a third of them had a cell phone and did not ever look up or acknowledge me looking at their merchandise. I actually walked away from these without purchasing anything, due to their lack of interest. PUT DOWN your cell phone.

AUTHOR

Christin Sander

2 years agofrom Midwest

I fixed the broken link - sorry about that. It should be working now. The seller is BannersOutletUSA

Hi christine im a photographer and sell at local craft shows i need help with display ideas cuz im not selling stuff i read ur article and took some ideas from it but what is the best way to make the booth stand out more i did read about using different levels

Katie Rongen

2 years ago

Hi! I can't find the link to the Amazon sign. Could you comment what it is? Thank you!

Char Milbrett

2 years agofrom Minnesota

Very interesting page!

AUTHOR

Christin Sander

2 years agofrom Midwest

You're most welcome Karen thanks for the feedback :)

Karen

2 years ago

Great article! I've been in retail for a couple decades and I've been working with a partner at craft fairs for a few more. Your tips are right on target and your explanations of your tips are also well presented. I read the article looking for something new and in addition to seeing a plethora of excellent advice, I found your comments about lighting to be "illuminating". LOL THANKS so much for such a great article.

AUTHOR

Christin Sander

2 years agofrom Midwest

Thank you Sojournstar :)

Angela Hobbs

2 years agofrom The TARDIS

Great article, good tips!

AUTHOR

Christin Sander

2 years agofrom Midwest

You're welcome Andreea hope you have a great first show.

Andreea Smash

2 years ago

Wow, incredibly comprehensive article! My partner and I are actually just working to set up our first booth at a handmade fair and your article is going to help a lot! Thank you :D

AUTHOR

Christin Sander

2 years agofrom Midwest

Thank you Frances - your read and comment are much appreciated :)

Frances Spiegel

2 years agofrom Wembley UK

I really enjoyed reading this article not just because of the content but more because of the way you have set it out. My eyes were easily guided through the article and I have learned a lot from you regarding layout. Thank you

AUTHOR

Christin Sander

2 years agofrom Midwest

Thanks very much for the read and comment aesta1 I appreciate it :) Happy Sales!

Mary Norton

2 years agofrom Ontario, Canada

I have to say this is one article that has been a good use of my time reading. I try to help artisans here in Cambodia market their products. There are many stores doing this now but they need to improve their online presence. Thanks for the tips.

AUTHOR

Christin Sander

2 years agofrom Midwest

Thanks Sheila

Welcome to HubPages. :)

Sheila McDowall

2 years agofrom Darwin, Northern Territory Australia

Hi Christine, I am new to Hubpages and I am reading your hub as my example for content and ability to be publish. Indeed this article about Craft Fairs Vendors Tips and Booth Ideas is very thorough and well written.

Thanks for being a good hubber.

AUTHOR

Christin Sander

2 years agofrom Midwest

Thanks for the read and comment Amy. Good luck with your sales.

AmyF

2 years ago

Thanks for the tips! I have been a craft vendor for a number of years and am familiar with practicing a lot of the things you've mentioned. I'm getting ready to redesign the booth as we expand our inventory - I like the idea of stacking items at eye level!

AUTHOR

Christin Sander

2 years agofrom Midwest

Thanks so much for your comment Diana. I think it was my background in retail and in hospitality that kind of gave me a bit of an edge. If you're a decorator, you likely have that same advantage for having an eye for detail. It certainly is something a lot of new craters struggle with. I always thought basic manners was common sense, (saying hello etc.) but some really have to work at it. I appreciate the read and comment :)

Diana S.

2 years ago

I mostly notice people doing all the things you say not to do. They are kvetching about no sales. They are ignoring people walking into their booths. Their booths have no color, no signs. They're eating (which I kind of understand if they're by themselves) but I'll try to get someone to give me a break. I'm an interior decorator and sell upcycled furniture. My booth has to give the right impression. So glad I found this site.

gaurav oberoi

2 years ago

Thank you for this hub. Lots of useful tips.

AUTHOR

Christin Sander

2 years agofrom Midwest

You're very welcome Chris :)

Chris Rebel

2 years agofrom Dublin, Ireland

Excellent! Thanks again ChristinS, checking your website now! :)

AUTHOR

Christin Sander

2 years agofrom Midwest

Awesome Chris thanks so much for the read and comment. Be sure to check out my website and blog for craft fair vendors - a lot of beginner advice there too even more in-depth than the hub. http://www.thecraftbooth.com Good luck :)

Chris Rebel

2 years agofrom Dublin, Ireland

Thank you for the advice and tips, they are invaluable. We are about to embark on our first venture into Craft Fair's in the coming months so I expect I will be putting your techniques into good practice :)

AUTHOR

Christin Sander

2 years agofrom Midwest

You're welcome Diana thanks for the read and comment :)

Diana Abrahamson

2 years ago

Great display options for craft shows and tips to share what not to do..thanks!

AUTHOR

Christin Sander

2 years agofrom Midwest

Thanks flaky, I also have a whole website and blog devoted to vendors and selling at http://www.thecraftbooth.com be sure to check that out as well for even more information. good luck to you :)

flakycrustedmemry

2 years ago

As a newbie to crafting and being a vendor at shows your article is very informative. I appreciate you sharing some great ideas. I will refer back to your article often to remind me of the things I need to be doing.

AUTHOR

Christin Sander

3 years agofrom Midwest

Thanks for the awesome comment and feedback breathing :) I appreciate you taking the time.

Sajib

3 years agofrom Bangladesh

If you want to successfully sell your products at craft fair, this hub can be the master piece for you. The techniques mentioned in this post are absolutely amazing! Indeed you get more chances of selling products at a craft fair compared to normal time. If you can use this chance effectively, you can get the best of selling and make a handsome profit. But for this you need to effectively execute the tips described in this article. I would recommend this post for every craft selling party. Learn these techniques and apply them in your stall. Hopefully you will get the better of everyone.

AUTHOR

Christin Sander

3 years agofrom Midwest

If you are doing outdoor events, I would invest in a canopy over an umbrella. Having sold soap myself, I can tell you wind and rain can be your worst enemy. Canopies offer more protection from the elements. If you are strictly indoors, you could go without of course and be fine. Your display sounds very creative and unique and I don't think a canopy will take away from it at all.

Misty

3 years ago

Hi, I make and sell beer soap at local craft markets. I'm currently working on a vintage styled cart with a small canopy as a display that will take the place of a traditional 6 foot banquet table. I will use antiqued galvanized metal buckets as part of the display, as well as an antique soap dish for samples, and some wooden crates. It's not a huge display and does not take up an entire 10X10 space. I prefer not to use a canopy, as I think it takes away from the "feel" of my vintage display. However, people always seem to freak out a little bit because we don't have a canopy. I've never had it to be a problem. I was thinking of getting a stand alone umbrella and a solid base instead of a canopy. Do you think being different in this way is a bad thing? I didn't think so but it seems like all the other vendors and organizers think it's very strange and necessary that we have a canopy.

AUTHOR

Christin Sander

3 years agofrom Midwest

Thanks for the read and comment Ashly - much appreciated :)

Ashly Christen

3 years agofrom Illinois

I wish I was a lil more crafty with my hands. When I do find that niche' I will take these tips to heart at my first flea market! Thanks for sharing!

AUTHOR

Christin Sander

3 years agofrom Midwest

Hi ScentMaven, I appreciate the comment and although I did use Scentsy as an example, I did in fact mention it applied to all vendors who sell scented items (and even mentioned that I've sold my own) Scentsy and PartyLite are the two most common mass market vendors, so naming them as an example is a way for others to know what I'm talking about. I also did mention that not all Scentsy vendors are like that - I've met several who are not (thankfully) :)

ScentMaven

3 years ago

You have a fantastic article with a lot of very helpful tips! I wish I had stumbled on this many years ago when I was just starting out and needed a handy checklist. :)

I have sold Scentsy for over six years and work very hard to be a considerate vendor to those around me. If I warm anything at all, I choose a light, neutral fragrance and ask my neighbors if they have any scent allergies first. Most are usually very happy to have something warming as it attracts other shoppers to our area.

It was slightly discouraging that Scentsy was specifically called out as someone you might not want to be by. I have been at many vendor shows over the years and there are a lot of companies that sell fragrance, including warmers and wax. It just seems that our company is commonly called out when there are many who sell similar products as ours (and those that don't) who could learn to be considerate of their neighbors, without naming one specific company. ;)

Warmly...

AUTHOR

Christin Sander

3 years agofrom Midwest

Thanks for the read and comment chezchazz

Chazz

3 years agofrom New York

Great ideas! Love the coffee bean tip.

AUTHOR

Christin Sander

3 years agofrom Midwest

thanks for the read and comment skperdon. Many people might be surprised how much work goes into a booth!

skperdon

3 years agofrom Canada

Didn't know there was so much involved in setting up those little booths, but I totally agree with the tips that you have shared in this hub.

Thanks for sharing your expertise ChristinS.

AUTHOR

Christin Sander

3 years agofrom Midwest

Thanks peach, so glad you enjoyed the hub. Have a great day.

peachy

3 years agofrom Home Sweet Home

thanks for yr tips, i agree that the display plays an important part

AUTHOR

Christin Sander

3 years agofrom Midwest

Awesome Isla - that's the way to do it! :) thanks so much for stopping by again and giving me positive feedback.

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